[Shoulder arthroscopy using the holmium-YAG laser method. State of the art 1994].

The Ho:YAG laser has been found to be a safe and efficacious adjunct to many arthroscopic shoulder procedures. The curved, thin handpieces are easily manipulated around the surfaces of the joint. Postoperative inflammation is minimized, and a versatile instrument that can cut, coagulate, ablate, and cauterize has obvious benefit where optimal visualization is required. The potential for chondral contouring and bone resection is currently being studied, and the use of laser-induced thermal contraction of soft tissue collagen may add some exciting possibilities to the treatment of joint instabilities.